Euler-Bernoulli Beams:

Bending, Buckling, and Vibration

David M. Parks

2.002 Mechanics and Materials II

Department of Mechanical Engineering
MIT
February 9, 2004
Linear Elastic Beam Theory

Basics of beams
Geometry of deformation
Equilibrium of slices
Constitutive equations
Applications:
Cantilever beam deflection
Buckling of beams under axial compression
Vibration of beams
 Beam Theory:
Slice Equilibrium Relations
q(x): distributed load/length Axial force balance:
N(x): axial force
V(x): shear force
M(x): bending moment
Transverse force balance:

Moment balance about x+dx:

 Euler-Bernoulli Beam Theory:
Displacement, strain, and stress distributions

Beam theory assumptions on spatial 1-D stress/strain relation:

variation of displacement components:

Stress distribution in terms of

Displacement field:

Axial strain distribution in beam:

Axial strain varies linearly
Through-thickness at section x
0- h/2
y
0

xx(y)

0 + h/2
 Slice Equilibrium:
Section Axial Force N(x) and Bending Moment M(x) in
terms of Displacement fields
N(x): x-component of force equilibrium
on slice at location x:

xx

M(x): z-component of moment equilibrium

on slice at location x:
 Centroidal Coordinates

choice:
 Tip-Loaded Cantilever Beam: Equilibrium

statically determinant:
P support reactions R, M0
from equilibrium alone
reactions present
because of x=0 geometrical
boundary conditions v(0)=0;
v(0)=(0)=0
Free body diagrams:

general equilibrium
equations (CDL 3.11-12)
satisfied

How to determine lateral displacement

v(x); especially at tip (x=L)?
 Exercise: Cantilever Beam Under Self-Weight

Weight per unit lenth: q0

q0 = Ag=bhg

Free body diagrams:

Find:
Reactions: R and M0
Shear force: V(x)
Bending moment: M(x)
 Tip-Loaded Cantilever: Lateral Deflections

curvature / moment relations:

geometric boundary conditions

tip deflection and rotation: stiffness and modulus:

 Tip-Loaded Cantilever: Axial Strain Distribution

strain field (no axial force):

xxTOPTOP
xx

top/bottom axial strain distribution:

xxBOTTOM

xxBOTTOM

xxTOP
strain-gauged estimate of E:
 Euler Column Buckling:
Non-uniqueness of deformed
configuration
moment/curvature:

ode for buckled shape:

free body diagram

(note: evaluated in deformed
configuration):
Note: linear 2nd order ode;
Constant coefficients (but
parametric: k2 = P/EI
 Euler Column Buckling, Cont.

ode for buckled shape:

general solution to ode:

boundary conditions: parametric consequences:

non-trivial buckled shape only when

buckling-based estimate of E:
Euler Column Buckling: General
Observations
buckling load, Pcrit, is proportional to EI/L2

proportionality constant depends

strongly on boundary conditions at
both ends:

the more kinematically

restrained the ends are, the larger
the constant and the higher the
critical buckling load (see Lab 1 handout)

safe design of long slender columns

requires adequate margins with respect
to buckling

buckling load may occur a a compressive

stress value (=P/A) that is less than yield
stress, y
 Euler-Bernoulli Beam Vibration
assume time-dependent lateral motion:

lateral velocity of slice at x:

lateral acceleration of slice at x:

net lateral force (q(x,t)=0):

mass of dx-thickness slice:

moment balance:

linear momentum balance (Newton):

 Euler-Bernoulli Beam Vibration, Cont.(1)

linear momentum balance: ode for mode shape, v(x), and vibration
frequency, :

moment/curvature:

general solution to ode:

 Euler-Bernoulli Beam Vibration, Cont(2)
general solution to ode:

pinned/pinned boundary conditions:

Solution (n=1, first mode):
A1: arbitrary (but small)
vibration amplitude

pinned/pinned restricted solution:

1: period of
first mode: